noche de encanto - concierto a beneficio de programas sociales, Los Angeles, California - TT: Night of enchantment - TA: concert to benefit for inner city programs; Los Angeles, California - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 2001 by Ricky Richardson

A pleasant breeze hovered over the city of Los Angeles on July 21, 2001. On the backlot of Paramount Studios, the atmosphere registered at HOT! HOT! HOT! This is how the evening began and ended for the second annual "Noche De Encanto," a benefit for Inner-City Arts, a program that provides hands-on art experience for over 8,000 inner city children a year. Working with 14 downtown Los Angeles Schools, the organization provides daily instruction in visual arts, music, dance, drama, and animation. The children served are some of the neediest in Southern California. All come from families living well below the poverty level. At one of the partnering schools, over 30% of the students are classified as homeless. The proceeds from Noche De Encanto will help ensure that every day is special for the kids served by Inner-City Arts.

I've been a photographer for many years now, but the lens were turned on me and the 2,000 salseros entering and experiencing red carpet treatment, along with screaming fans and a couple of celebrity photographers.

Jarabe Xitlati (which means a healing mixture of stars) was an innovativel group that provided music as a warm-up for the people entering Paramount Studios. The group's roots is comprised of the rhythms of West Africa, Cuba and Brazil.

The degree of entertainment got a little hotter with the exciting music of Johnny Polanco and Conjunto Amistad. This band kept the salseros on the dance floor throughout their lively set. Several tunes stood out: Mambo Gozón, authored by the late Tito Puente; El Cuarto de Tula (a tune popularized by the Buena Vista Social Club soundtrack); and El Menú, a number recorded by the legendary El Gran Combo from Puerto Rico.

The degree of musical temperature grew a bit hotter with the stunning Brazilian singer and songwriter Katia Moraes. The sensuous samba and bossa nova sounds of Brazil could be heard on the tunes Pescadas Muie, Anos Dourados and Onne o Rig e Mais Balanco.

The sizzling Latin hand Son Mayor also turned up the heat during their crowd-pleasing set. A group of young musicians led by outstanding singer Mirley Espinosa a.k.a. Chino, they successfully mixed hot Latin rhythms (chachachá, merengue, cumbia, salsa, timba, son, son montuno, guaracha, changui and danzón) with popular contemporary elements, to create an original style with a whole lot of energy that kept the salseros moving during both of their sets for this evening. Chocolate, Caballo Grande, La Sandunguita and La Consiencia Tranquila were some of the songs performed. For those too intimidated to get on the dance floor, salsa dance instructor Laura Canellias offered free dance lessons.

The Paramount Studios backlot was transformed into a tropical oasis, with additional entertainment provided as Mambo Spice sisters Michelle and Nicole danced for the audience, along with Salsa in the Mix and L.A. Salsa Kids, a group of young dancers from Los Angeles. A heart wrenching song was performed by the Inner-City Arts Choir.

Promoter Albert Torres and radio personality Beto Arcos (of KPFK 90.7) served as masters of ceremony. For more information on the Inner-City Arts program, write to:

THE MARK TAPER CENTER/INNER-CITY ARTS

720 KOHLER ST. LOS ANGELES, CA 90021

TEL: 213-627-9621 FAX: 213-627-6469